Room enclosure comprised or prefabricated elements such as outer walls, partitions and intermediate floors or the like and a method for the assembly thereof

ABSTRACT

A simple, economic and rapid method for the reliable and precise erection of sturdy room delimiting means in new and semi-finished building and, respectively, for incorporation in pre-existing room and the room delimiting means includes modular prefabricated elements, stiffening and connecting elements and fastening elements. The prefabricated elements include groove and tongue like recesses and projections at their ends for connecting to other prefabricated elements. The stiffening and connecting elements stiffen, fasten and/or connect the prefabricated elements and are arrangable at a recess and/or space to connect the prefabricated elements. The stiffening and connecting elements may be adapted in an extremely simple fashion for different stiffening and connecting purposes so that erection of the room delimiting means requires only a few different parts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a 371 application of PCT application,Application No. PCT/EP99/07619, filed Oct. 11, 1999, which claimspriority on German Application No. 19846599.8, filed Oct. 9, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a room delimiting means composed ofprefabricated elements, such as outer walls, partitions and storyterminating means or the like and to a method for erecting same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the last few years construction and building technology has seen adevelopment, in which by making erection as rational and rapid aspossible the time needed, and the costs involved, for the completion ofbuildings may be reduced as much as possible. In order to achieve thisaim reliance is being placed to an increasing extent on prefabricatedcomponents, that is to say parts of buildings are being produced offsite and then fitted together and installed later. One example for suchprefabricated parts is prefabricated wall elements, which are employedmore particularly for the erection of load-free partitions insemi-finished buildings or for later installation in rooms which havealready been produced, as for example in open-plan offices, apartmentsto be modernized and the like. One example for this is to be found inthe German patent publication 19,611,388 A1, which describes aprefabricated wall element with integrated conduit passages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain an advantage as regards time and costs when buildingusing prefabricated parts it is on the one hand possible to improve themanufacture and design of the prefabricated element themselves. On theother hand a decisive point as regards assembly on the building site isthat the prefabricated elements are able to be simply, reliably andrapidly mounted.

One object of the present invention is the production of room delimitingmeans such as outer walls, partitions, story delimit means, roofelements and the like, which render possible rapid, precise and economicassembly in position, with, more particularly, the advantages ofprefabricated wall systems, for the production of outer walls and,respectively, story delimiting means. More especially it is intended tomake available a multiplicity of different variations in outer walls,partitions, story delimiting means with more particularly pre-installedinstallation and/or heating and services and supply conduits in thesimple manner, which has been noted.

This aim is to be achieved by the characterizing features of theindependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are describedin the dependent claims.

In the case of the method of the invention for the erection of outerwalls, partitions, roof elements or delimiting means for stories or,respectively, of the room delimiting means produced therewith modularprefabricated elements are employed, which comprise a monolithic coreelement or a core element in the form of a composite element and atleast one surface element. Preferably transversely and longitudinallyextending or horizontally and vertically extending means are provided inthe conduit means in the form of channels. More especially prefabricatedelements are employed in the case of which the conduit means are presentin the form of outwardly open channels on both terminal sidesconstituting the principal faces. Such a modular prefabricated elementis described in the said German patent publication 19,611,388 A1.

For connection of the prefabricated elements together and with the wall,ceiling or floor of a room or, respectively, for stiffening the modularprefabricated elements and connecting stiffening elements are provided,which are fitted in recesses or intermediate spaces in the prefabricatedelements. In the case of the recesses it is preferably a question ofgrooves or groove and tongue joints between the prefabricated elements.As an alternative or in a complementary manner it is possible for thestiffening and connecting elements also to be fitted in intermediatespaces in the prefabricated elements, which are either already providedfor them in the prefabricated elements or are fitted in theprefabricated elements when the connection is produced. The importantpoint is that the stiffening and connecting elements on the one handjointly act to provide for stiffening of the prefabricated elements andon the other hand to ensure a connection of the prefabricated elementswith one another or with the walls or floor/ceiling of the room so thatit is possible to dispense with additional components, something whichleads to savings in time and money. It is more especially an advantagewith the present invention that as far as possible only one or at themost merely a few stiffening and connecting elements are provided fordifferent stiffening and connecting purposes univesally. This leads tothe advantage that on the building site only a few different componentsmust be stocked and accordingly stockholding costs are reduced andfurthermore the expense of stocking and ordering different parts may becut down.

The stiffening and connecting elements are, in the present invention, atleast partly attached by fastening elements to the prefabricatedelements or to the wall, ceiling or, respectively, floor of the room or,respectively, both to the prefabricated elements and also the wall,ceiling or, respectively, floor in order to so to ensure reliablefastening of the room delimiting means to ther wall, ceiling or,respectively, floor or to ensure the connection of the prefabricatedelements. This ensures a safe and strong design of the room dividingmeans composed of the prefabricated elements.

For the room delimiting means in accordance with the invention or,respectively, the method for the erection thereof it is particularlypreferred to employ prefabricated elements, which on the one hand at theprincipal faces possess horizontal and/or vertical or, respectively,transverse and longitudinally extending channels and on the other handpossess groove- and tongue-like recesses and projections on two oppositenarrow sides, by means of which the connection of the prefabricatedelements is facilitated. For such prefabricated elements the presentinvention is more particularly suitable, since the structure inaccordance with the invention renders it possible to simply meet specialjoining requirements as regards providing the prefabricated elementswith horizontal and/or vertical or, respectively, transversely and/orlongitudinally extending channels. Furthermore, prefabricated elementswith groove and tongue joints offer suitable space for the applicationof the stiffening and connecting elements. It is more especiallyadvantageous to use prefabricated elements, in the case of which thegroove and tongue-like projections and recesses on the narrow sides tobe connected are already preformed by the channels on the core elementor are preformed by the arrangement of the surface elements on the coreelement. This is something also offering advantages in connection withthe manufacture of the prefabricated elements.

For putting the invention into practice the employment of U sections asstiffening and connecting elements is particularly advantageous. Intheir dimensions same are preferably selected to be matched with thegroove and tongue-like recesses and projections on the narrow sides tobe connected of the prefabricated elements and/or the thickness of thecore elements of the prefabricated elements. It is in this manner thatthe U sections may be exactly fitted in the groove-like recesses or maybe arranged so that their limbs fit around the tongue-like projections.Moreover the limbs of the U sections may in accordance with theinvention fit into the intermediate spaces between the core element andthe surface element of the prefabricated element. These intermediatespaces are either already provided in the course of manufacture of theprefabricated element or are produced during manufacture the connectionby insertion of the reinforcing and connecting elements. If, forexample, prefabricated elements are employed, which are made from a foamboard of PU, or PSD foam material, or if upright mineral wool isavailable as a core element and a plaster-cardboard sheet, it ispossible for the interface between the core element and the faceelement, to be for example constituted by a bonding layer, to be readilybroken by the insertion of, for instance, a metallic U section.

The universal application of the U sections is rendered possible becausethey are in accordance with the invention able to be adapted to aplurality of different uses, for example on the building site in asimple manner. Thus it is possible for the limbs of the U sections to beso cut that the portions of the limbs may be bent outward. The lugs soformed are then preferably bent so far outward that they are in the sameplanes as the base of the U sections. The lugs so formed project pastthe prefabricated elements, when the U section prepared in this manneris arranged on a prefabricated element. The projecting lugs may thenwith advantage be employed for the fastening of the stiffening andconnecting element to the wall, ceiling or, respectively, floor of theroom. Furthermore it is possible, in accordance with one particular formof embodiment, for such lugs to be also separated from the U section, sothat a recess results at the corresponding limb of the U section. Thisrecess then renders possible easier access to the base piece of the Usection. If in the case of such stiffening and connecting element, whichhas inserted into the prefabricated element, at the position of therecess a similar recess is provided at the point of the recess a similarrecess is provided in the surface element, access will be possible inthe assembled state to the base surface of the U section, even if theprefabricated element terminates at a side, at which the section hasbeen arranged, is flush with a room wall or, respectively, the floor orceiling. Using such access, produced in this manner, to the base of theU section fastening of the U section to a wall, floor or ceiling of aroom is possible without projecting lugs or visible fastening elementsmaking an ugly optical impression during connection of a prefabricatedelement to a room wall or, respectively, floor or ceiling, if afterfastening the recess is closed by simple plastering, for example. Thisspecial embodiment of the present invention renders possible not onlyrapid and economic but also a neat and aesthetically pleasingarrangement of the prefabricated parts in a room.

In a further embodiment the limbs of the U section are so cut that the Usections may be bent at an angle. This is advantageous for the design ofdoor and window apertures in outer and separating walls or openingsbetween stories or for the reinforcement of corners of the prefabricatedelements.

In a similar manner it is possible to produce an oblique connectionbetween prefabricated elements together or for an oblique connection ofa prefabricated element to a room wall or, respectively, floor orceiling the U section employed can be so cut that it is able to be bentabout an axis perpendicular to the base surface. The parts arranged atan angle to one another of a U section prepared in this manner may thenin a known fashion be connected with the prefabricated elements and theroom walls or, respectively, floor or ceiling. Preferably, this isperformed by connecting the base of the U section by fastening elementsuch as screws and screw anchoring plugs with the room wall or,respectively, floor or ceiling and the limbs of the respective U sectionparts fit into the intermediate spaces between the prefabricatedelements to be connected, which are produced between the core elementsand the surface elements by insertion of the limbs.

Thus in a simple, rapid and reliable fashion by the employment of a Usection, which in its dimensions is matched to the prefabricatedelements employed, a great variety of reinforcement and connectionfunctions may be performed. For this purpose the U section only has tobe adapted in length to the different purposes and/or modified in asimple manner, even on the building site for example. In the ideal caseit is however only necessary to stock one type of U sections on thebuilding site with a single uniform length, which is then suitablyprocessed on erection of the partition. Preferably conventional steelsections will be employed as the U sections, since same possess adequaterigidity and flexibility. As an fastening means it is possible forconventional screw, bolts and screw anchoring plugs to be used.

In order to optimize the stiffening and connecting properties it isnaturally possible to utilize U sections with different dimensions. Thismay for example be the case when prefabricated elements with verticaland horizontal channels or, respectively, transversely andlongitudinally extending channels are employed, since then there is theadvantage of using U sections for the connection of the prefabricatedelements, such U sections not extending for the entire thickness of theprefabricated elements so that horizontal or transverse channels are notblocked by the stiffening and connecting element. In this case it isthen advisable to provide U sections with two different dimensions sothat the U sections with the one dimension may be utilized as astiffening and connecting element for the prefabricated elements amongstthemselves and the other U sections with the other dimension may beemployed for the application of the prefabricated elements to the wall,ceiling or, respectively, to the floor. Here as well there is howeveralways the advantage of a small number of different components.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, when for example extremelystiff requirements apply as regards the stiffness and strength of theroom delimiting means or, respectively, the connections of theprefabricated parts, it is furthermore possible for boards to beemployed as further stiffening and connecting elements. This will be thecase for example when U sections are used as reinforcing and connectingelements, which essentially do not encompass the full thickness of theprefabricated element, for example to leave channels exposed. In thecase of this particular working embodiment of a room delimiting means itmay be necessary for the additional boards to be arranged as stiffeningand connecting elements on the side of the prefabricated wall elements,on which the exposed channels run. In this case the boards, in a mannersimilar to the limbs of the U sections, are fitted into the intermediatespaces between the core elements and the surface elements of theprefabricated elements to be connected. The boards may then in a similarmanner to the U sections be connected by connecting means such as screwsand bolts to the surface elements.

If the invention is employed for the erection of a story ceiling it isthen an advantage, more particularly if the length of the prefabricatedelements does not extend over the full width of the room, to use the Usections as ledge elements for the prefabricated elements as well. Inthis case the U sections are attached resting against the wall orathwart the room and the prefabricated elements are arranged in thepreviously described manner, that is to say for instance with theintermediate spaces between the core element and the surface elementaccommodating the limbs of the U section, on the U section. If in thecase of such a design two U sections resting against each other arenecessary, same may naturally be replaced by a H section or girder.

The invention thus provides a method which is particularly advantageousbecause of the saving in time and costs, which makes it possible toerect a sturdy room delimiting means using but a few components,starting with prefabricated elements.

In the following the characteristics and features of the presentinvention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which show preferred embodiments, which are all purelydiagrammatic representations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of the components employed in themethod of the invention and of the arrangement in relation to each otherin accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken through a prefabricated partitionelement.

FIG. 3 shows a such as taken through a prefabricated partition elementwith a stepped fold.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective elevation of a U section (a) and of Usections (b and c) prepared in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view (a and c) and a plan view (b and d) of Usections bent in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 shows perspective views of U sections bent in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section taken through a plurality of prefabricatedpartition elements, the arrangement of the prefabricated elements,stiffening and connecting element and fastening elements beingillustrated during the erection of a room delimiting means.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section taken through a plurality of prefabricatedpartition elements, the arrangement of the prefabricated elements,stiffening and connecting element and fastening elements being depictedduring the erection of room delimiting means with prefabricated elementshaving a stepped fold.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken perpendicularly to the views of FIGS.7 and 8 through a partition wall/prefabricated elements, the arrangementof the prefabricated element, stiffening and connecting elements and thefastening elements being illustrated in the course of the erection ofthe room delimiting means.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section taken through a practically completed roomdelimiting means.

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of a room delimiting means of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross section through a prefabricated wall element for aload-carrying or non-load carrying design for mounting planks on walls.

FIG. 13 is a cross section taken through a prefabricated wall elementfor mounting planks on walls with a pre-existing wall and an arrangementof the individual prefabricated wall elements.

FIG. 14 is a cross section through a floor or prefabricated storyelement for the production of load-bearing story ceilings (prefabricatedceiling with longitudinal conductor conduits) or dry subfloors (dryscreeded floor, with conductor channels “double floor”), which areload-bearing or not so.

FIG. 15 shows a cross section through a prefabricated floor element(non-load bearing) for producing a dry subfloor (dry screeded floor,with conduits, “double floor”)) on a pre-existing story ceiling (alsopossible in a load-bearing design).

FIG. 16 is a cross section taken through an outer prefabricated wallelement load-bearing and non-load-bearing designs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In an exploded perspective view FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a roomdelimiting means. In this case prefabricated elements 1 are employed,which on one of their narrow sides 18 have a groove 8 extending for thethickness of the core element 2 and on the opposite narrow side acorresponding tongue element 7. It is however of course to be understoodthat the use of other prefabricated elements 1 would be possible asdescribed later on. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the stiffening andconnecting elements 9, 11 and 11 a are arranged on the prefabricatedelements 1, U sections 9 and 11 being essentially employed as stiffeningand connecting elements, which here only essentially differ as regardsthe width of their base surfaces 14 and 14 a. In addition it is possibleto utilize boards 11 a, if same are necessary.

During the assembly of the prefabricated elements 1 to produce a roomdelimiting means the prefabricated elements 1 are arranged with theirlongitudinal narrow sides 18 facing each other and are inserted intoeach other so that the groove and tongue-like elements 7 and 8 fittogether. For stiffening the prefabricated elements 1 and for producinga connection between these prefabricated elements 1 a U section 11 is somoved between the prefabricated elements 1 to be connected that the baseface 14 a of the U section 11 fits into the recess 8 in the oneprefabricated element 1 and the limbs 13 a of the U section 11 fitaround the tongue-like projection 7 on the other prefabricated element1. In the illustrated position the projection 7 is however notcompletely encompass and in fact one limb 13 a of the U section 11 fitsinto an intermediate space 15, which is arranged generally in the middleof the core element 2. The other limb of the U section 11 fits into afurther intermediate space 15 between the core element 2 and one of thesurface elements 3, which is for example formed because on fitting theparts into each other the limb 13 a of the U section 11 releases theconnection between the core element 2 and the surface element 3 at theconnection face 6 as for example due to knocking the U section 11 intothe narrow side 18.

A U section 11 fitted between the prefabricated elements 1 improves thestiffness of the prefabricated elements 1 and of the hold between theprefabricated elements 1 placed in a row and simultaneously produces asimple connection between the prefabricated elements 1, since as neededfastening elements 10 (not illustrated, see FIGS. 7 through 10),preferably screws (self tapping screws or plasterboard screws) or boltsmay be inserted through the surface elements 3 of the adjacentprefabricated elements and through the respectively underlying limbs 13a of the inserted U section 11. It is in this manner that the groove andtongue-like connection between the prefabricated elements 1 isadditionally secured.

With the illustrated use of prefabricated elements 1 with horizontal andvertical or, respectively, longitudinally and transversely extendingconduit channels 4 and 5 the U section is suitably adapted, for exampleon the basis of recesses or openings, or the U section 11 extends, as inthe illustrated case, only for part of the thickness of theprefabricated element or the narrow side thereof 18 so that thehorizontal conduit channels 5, or those extending the prefabricatedelement are not blocked by the fitting in place of the U section 11. Inthis particular embodiment it is possible, should it be necessary forreasons of strength, for boards 11 a to be arranged on the surfaceelement side, on which horizontally or, respectively, transverselyextending channels 5 are arranged, which boards just like the limbs 13 aof the U section 11 on the other side of the prefabricated element maybe fitted in the intermediate spaces 15 between the surface element 3and the core element 2 on the two prefabricated elements 1 to beconnected. By sticking screws 10 (not illustrated, see also FIGS. 7through 10) or the like through the surface elements 3 and the board 11a underneath same this connection may be secured in the same fashion.

It is of course possible in such cases to do without any additional Usection 11 or an additional board 11 a, if the strength of theconnection and of the prefabricated elements is sufficient.

For the fastening of the prefabricated elements 1 on a room wall or,respectively, a floor or ceiling or for connection of prefabricatedelements 1 without horizontal or transversely extending conduit channels5 a U section 9 with different dimensions to that of the U section 11 isso utilized that its limbs 13 fit right around the entire core element2. As shown the U section 9 is so arranged like the U section 11 thatthe limbs 13 fit into the intermediate spaces 15 between the surfaceelements 3 and the core element 2.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a respective cross section taken throughprefabricated elements is shown, such elements preferably being employedfor the erection of room delimiting means. Here there is a detailedrepresentation indicating that the prefabricated element 1 is composedof a core element 2 and preferably two surface elements 3. Thelongitudinally extending channels 4 and transversely extending channelsof the prefabricated element 1 are in this preferred embodiment formedin the oppositely placed side faces of the core element 2. Owing to thesurface elements 3, which respectively possess a connecting face 6 withthe core element, the channels 4 and 5 are shut off from the outside. Atthe narrow sides 18 of the longitudinal side of the prefabricatedelement 1 groove and tongue-like elements 7 and 8 in the form of aprojection 7 and a recess 8 are provided, which extend over the fullwidth of the core element 2 (FIG. 2) or merely over a part (FIG. 3)thereof, whereas the two other narrow sides are essentially plain.

FIGS. 4 through 6 indicate how the U sections 9, utilized as stiffeningand connecting elements may be adapted for different purpose of use.Thus it becomes, as indicated in FIG. 4, possible to cut into the limbs13 to form lugs 12, which are bent into the plane of the base 14 inorder to serve for fastening to the wall, ceiling or, respectively,floor (FIG. 4b). In a further embodiment (FIG. 4c) the U sections 9 areso processed that the lugs 12, which were produced by cutting the limb13, are removed so that recesses 16 are produced in the limbs 13. If a Usection worked in this manner is moved so that its limbs 13 fit into theintermediate spaces 15 of the prefabricated elements 1, it is thepossible, given a suitable arrangement of recesses in the surfaceelement 3, to provide a passage through to the base 14, via the recess16, of the section, which passage is employed to insert fastening meansfor the connection of the base 14 of the U section 9 with walls, thefloor or the ceiling of the room. The recesses then produced in thesurface elements may, after assembly, be filled in a simple fashion withplaster, for example, so that in the case of this preferred type offastening no visible projecting lugs 12 are left on the walls or on thefloor and ceiling of the room.

FIG. 5 shows a further preferred embodiment of the U section 9 able tobe employed as a universal stiffening and connecting element. By cuttinga limb 13 and the base 14 of the U section 9 it is possible to produce abend in the U section 9 as related to the longitudinal axis of the Usection 9 in the plane of the base 14 by bending, such bend serving torender possible an angular arrangement of the prefabricated elements 1in relation to one another or in relation to the wall, the floor or theceiling. In this case the bend of the U section 9 may be so producedthat the base faces 14 of the two U section parts overlap (FIG. 5c andFIG. 5d) or have a gap between them (FIGS. 5a and 5 b). It is naturallynecessary, in the case of such an angular arrangement of theprefabricated elements 1, to work on them using a suitable miter cut inthe side coming into question so that the sides to be connected or,respectively, the side, is or are exactly flush with any already presentroom delimiting means. This is something which may be carried out by aman in the art using well known methods.

FIG. 6 shows examples of U sections 9, which have been worked inaccordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. Bycutting the two limbs 13 of a U section 9 it is possible for the base 14of the U section 9 to be bent or angled. This means that angular Usections 9 are produce, which for example may be fitted in the cornersof a door or window frame or an opening through a story of a roomdelimiting means made up of the prefabricated elements 1 (see FIG. 11below). The bent U section 9 possesses a vertical part 21 and ahorizontal part 22, which may be so arranged in relation to each otherthat their limbs 13 overlap (FIG. 6c) or have a gap between them (FIG.6a). Furthermore it is possible for the limb parts 13 to be bentcompletely or partially into the plane of the base 14 in order to formlugs 12.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section taken through a room delimiting means inaccordance with the invention arranged between two pre-existing roomdelimiting means 19, i.e. a wall, ceiling or floor, said delimiting ofthe invention being made up of prefabricated parts 1. Here in additionthe arrangement and use of the above mentioned components thearrangement and use of the fastening means 10 will be clear. In the caseof the room delimiting means illustrated U sections 9 and 11 ofdifferent width are utilized. While the U sections 9 extend over thefull width of the core elements 2 and their limbs 13 surround the entirecore element 2, the U sections 11 are less wide so that their limbs 13 aonly surround a part of the core element. The U sections 9 areconsequently employed for the fastening of the prefabricated element 1to a pre-existing wall, ceiling or floor 19, whereas the U sections 11serve for stiffening and connecting the prefabricated elements 1themselves together. In the case of embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 the Usections 9 are employed for the connection with a wall or, respectively,floor 19, which in this case is in the plane of the drawing. Here theabove described designs of the U sections 9 are employed. Thus in thetop part of FIG. 7 U sections are indicated, which have lugs 12, bymeans of which the U sections 9 may be connected with the wall or,respectively, ceiling or floor 19. For this purpose fastening means 17,such as screws, bolts, screw anchoring plugs and the like, are providedon the lugs 12. Alternatively it is possible for the fastening means 17to be arranged on the base face 14, U sections 9, which are providedwith recesses 16, rendering possible access to the base 14 even if thereis a pre-existing prefabricated element 1 in place, if a suitable recessis provided in the surface element 3 of the prefabricated element 1. Inaddition to the fastening of the U sections 9 using screws, screwanchoring plugs and the like it is also to possible employ othersuitable connecting methods, such as bonding. The stiffening andconnecting elements 11 and 11 a, which are arranged between adjacentprefabricated elements 1 in accordance with the above description, mayif required, be additionally secured using fastening element 10 on theprefabricated elements 1. Here it is also possible to use, moreparticularly, screws, bolts and preferably self-tapping screws asfastening means. By means of the fastening means 10 there is , moreparticularly, the creation of a strong connection between the surfaceelements 3 and the limbs 13 a of the U section 11 or, respectively, theboards 11 a. It is naturally possible for the U sections 9, whichpreferably serve for fastening of the prefabricated elements 1 to a wallor ceiling or, respectively, floor 19, to be additionally attached inthe same manner, i.e. therefore using fastening means 10, by the limb tothe surface elements 3 of the prefabricated elements 1.

At the top FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment, in the case of which a Usection 11 is utilized for the fastening of a prefabricated element 1 towall or floor or, respectively, ceiling 19, which extends over only partof the thickness of the prefabricated element 1 and accordingly, forexample, in the case of a prefabricated element 1 with vertical andhorizontal or, respectively, transversely and longitudinally extendingchannels 4 and 5, does not block the horizontal or, respectively,transversely extending channel 5.

If exceptionally an additional fastening of a prefabricated element 1 tothe room wall 19 is necessary, it is then possible to simply bend aboard 11 a partly to form an angle so that a limb 20 of the angle isconnected in a known fashion with the room wall 19, whereas the otherlimb of the angle is fitted into the intermediate space 15 of theprefabricated element 1 in a manner which is also known.

FIG. 9 shows a section taken perpendicularly to the views of FIGS. 7 and8 in the case of which the connection of the prefabricated elements 1with the room ceiling or, respectively, floor or walls 19 by means ofthe U sections 9 is visible. As shown in FIG. 9 at the bottom and,respectively, at the top, a U section 9, which is adapted to thethickness of the prefabricated element 1, is firstly attached to theroom wall, floor or, respectively, ceiling 19, preferably by means ofscrew anchoring plugs and screws to the room wall, floor or,respectively, ceiling 19. The first prefabricated element 1 is insertedinto the limbs 13 of the U sections 9 attached to the room delimitingmeans 19 so that the limbs 13 assume positions in the intermediatespaces 15 (see on this point the bottom of FIG. 7). In the case of theuse of prefabricated elements 1 with tongue-like projections 7, whichproject past the surface elements 3, it is necessary for theprefabricated element 1 to be prepared prior to fastening in a suitablemanner, for example by sawing off with a keyhole saw so that the surfaceelements 3 of the prefabricated element end flush with the room wall 19.If U sections 9 are not utilized, which extend over the full length ofthe room delimiting means to be erected, then after this in aconventional manner two further U sections 9 on the room floor, ceilingor, respectively, wall are inserted into the intermediate spaces 15 inthe first prefabricated element 1 on the opposite narrow side 18 as faras half the U section 9 and if required again secured with fasteningmeans 17 to the room walls 19. At a position adjacent to the firstprefabricated element 1, which is now firmly secured in place, thesecond prefabricated element 1 is so arranged that the tongue-likeprojection of the one prefabricated element fits into the groove in theother prefabricated element 1 and the limbs 13 of the already secured Usections 9 fit into the intermediate spaces 15 of the secondprefabricated element. The limbs 13 of the U sections 9 may, in the caseof this type of connection, be joined using screws 10 or the like to thesurface elements 3.

FIG. 10 shows, in a manner similar to FIG. 7, a section taken through aplurality of joined-together prefabricated elements 1. In particularthis FIG. 10 shows the method which is employed on the insertion of thelast prefabricated element 1 in a room delimiting means. Theprefabricated element 1, which prior to insertion is cut to the rightlength in a suitable manner, is provided on the narrow sides, whichassume positions on the wall or, respectively, ceiling/floor 19, withthe corresponding stiffening and connecting elements 9, 11 and 11 a. Byturning in the prefabricated element it may be arranged with an exactfit in the room delimiting means. For this purpose it is possible forthe tongue-like projection 7 to be made oblique in some suitable fashionin order to facilitate turning in. After this the arrangement isstabilized by the application of the fastening means 10 and 17 in asimple manner.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of a room delimiting means in accordance withthe invention. In this figure there is again a diagrammatic indicationas to how the different components of the room delimiting means inaccordance with the invention are arranged. Thus the drawing indicatesthat between two adjacent prefabricated elements 1 a U section 11 isarranged over the full height of the prefabricated elements 1, and inaddition however furthermore boards 11 a in section. Furthermore theFIG. 11 indicates the incorporation of the prefabricated elements 1 inthe floor and ceiling using the differently designed U sections 9.Moreover a door opening is indicated, in whose corners at least partlybent U sections 9 are arranged FIG. 6a.

FIG. 12 and, respectively, FIG. 13 show a horizontal cross sectionthrough a prefabricated wall element, which is preferably employed inthe method in accordance with the invention for attaching planks topre-existing outer walls or, respectively, walls in general. Theprefabricated wall element 1 a is composed of a core element 2 andpreferably two wall surface elements 3 and, respectively, 3 a. Thevertical channels 4 and the horizontal 5 of the prefabricated element 1a are in this preferred embodiment formed in the oppositely placed sidefaces of the core element 2. By means of the wall surface elements 3and, respectively, 3 a, which each possess a connecting face 6 leadingto the core element, the channels 4 and 5 are shut off from the outside.The vertical narrow sides 18 of the prefabricated floor elements 1 b arepreferably plain in form, though prefabricated wall elements are alsoprovided having groove and tongue-like elements 7 and 8 in the form of aprojection 7 and a recess 8, as described in connection with FIG. 1 and,respectively, FIGS. 2 and 3. For stiffening and connecting theprefabricated elements the method in accordance with the invention isemployed using prefabricated elements. In a load-carrying design theconnecting elements (for example steel U sections) assume a staticfunction.

In FIG. 14 and, respectively, FIG. 15 a horizontal cross section takenthrough a prefabricated floor element is indicated, which is preferablyemployed in the method of the invention for the production ofprefabricated story ceilings or, respectively, for laying dry screedfloor base on a pre-existing story ceiling 19. The prefabricated floorelement 1 b is composed of a core element 2 and preferably two floorsurface elements 3 a and 3 b. The vertical (transversely extending)channels 4 and the horizontal (longitudinally extending) channels 5 ofthe prefabricated floor element 1 b are in this embodiment formed in theoppositely placed side faces of the core element 2. The channels 4 and 5are shut off from the outside by the floor surface elements 3 a and,respectively, 3 b, which each possess a face joining them with the coreelement. The floor surface element 3 b has a groove and tongue-likedesign of the narrow side, which is bonded during laying. The verticalnarrow sides 18 of the prefabricated elements 1 b are preferably madeplain, but however the invention also provides prefabricated floorelements with groove and tongue-like elements 7 and 8 in the form of aprojection 7 and a recess 9 as shown in FIG. 1 and, respectively, FIGS.2 and 3. For stiffening and connecting the prefabricated elements themethod in accordance with the invention is utilized using prefabricatedelements 1. In a load-carrying form the connecting elements (as forinstance steel U sections or H sections) perform a static function.

In FIG. 16 a horizontal cross section taken through a prefabricated wallelement is shown, which is preferably employed in the method of theinvention for the erection of outer walls. The prefabricated wallelement 1 c is composed of a core element 2 and preferably provided withthe wall surface elements 3, 3 b, 3 c and 3 d. The vertical channels 4and the horizontal channels 5 of the prefabricated element 1 c in thispreferred embodiment of the invention are formed in the opposite sidefaces of the core element 2. The wall surface elements 3 and 3 b, whichrespectively have a face 6 leading onto the core element, shut off thechannels 4 and 5 from the outside. On the narrow sides 18 adjacent tothe longitudinal side of the prefabricated wall elements 1 c groove andtongue-like elements 7 and 8 are provided in the form of a projection 7and recess 8, which extends for the entire width of the core element 2.

For stiffening and connecting the prefabricated elements the method inaccordance with the invention with prefabricated elements 1 is employed.In a load-carrying design the connecting elements (as for instance steelU sections or H sections) perform a static function.

As may be seen from the examples described the invention offers amultiplicity of different combinations of the components employed, whichcould not all be presented separately. It is however clear that acombination or only partial use of all the features indicated ispossible for certain applications. Particularly it is also possible toemploy the invention in combination with known connection and erectionmethods, as for example a simple groove and tongue-like connection, abond and the like. Furthermore in the examples no attention has beenpaid to particular dimensions of the components, since same mustobviously be adapted to the particular purpose of use. More especially,to take an example, the length of the U sections utilized may varyconsiderably dependent on the application. Preferably, U sections aretherefore employed which may be cut down to the required length by theuser on site.

The U sections 9 and 11 and, respectively, the boards 11 a arepreferably manufactured of metal and more particularly steel, althoughany other material could be considered which possesses the desiredproperties such as flexibility and sufficient rigidity.

What is claimed is:
 1. A room delimiting means for new and semi-finishedbuildings or for incorporation in pre-existing rooms, said roomdelimiting means comprising: modular prefabricated elements, each ofsaid prefabricated elements comprising a core element and at least onesurface element, at least one of said core element and said surfaceelement including at least one of recesses and intermediate spacestherein, each of said prefabricated elements including groove andtongue-like recesses and projections on opposite sides for connectingone of said prefabricated elements with another of said prefabricatedelements, said projections engaging corresponding recesses in anadjacent one of said prefabricated elements when said prefabricatedelements are connected together; stiffening and connecting elementsattached to said prefabricated elements, said stiffening and connectingelements being configured to fasten to said sides of said prefabricatedelements to at least one of stiffen said prefabricated elements, connectsaid prefabricated elements to a surface of a room and connect said oneof said prefabricated elements with said another of said prefabricatedelements, said stiffening and connecting elements being arrangable insaid at least one of the recesses and the intermediate spaces to connectsaid prefabricated elements with said another of said prefabricatedelements, the surface being at least one of a wall, a floor and aceiling of the room; and fastening elements for connecting at least oneof said stiffening and connecting elements to at least one of thesurface and said prefabricated elements.
 2. The room delimiting means asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said prefabricated elements include spacedconduit elements, which are arranged at least one of longitudinally withrespect to the prefabricated element and athwart the longitudinaldirection of the prefabricated elements, the spaced conduit elementsbeing configured to accommodate at least one of cables, installationmaterial, and heating or cooling media.
 3. The room delimiting means asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said stiffening and connecting elementscomprise a generally U shaped element which receives said tongue likeprojection and a generally straight element which inserts between saidcore element and said surface element, said first and second elementsbeing positioned at said prefabricated elements in positions which areremote form said spaced conduit members in said prefabricated elements.4. The room delimiting means as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidstiffening and connecting elements comprise U sections, said U sectionsincluding limbs and base faces, said stiffening and connecting elementsbeing attachable to the prefabricated elements such that said limbs ofsaid U sections at least one of fit around said tongue-like projections,fit around said core element of said prefabricated elements, fit into anintermediate space in said core element, and fit between said coreelement and said surface element.
 5. The room delimiting means asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said U sections include at least one of lugsand recesses so that said U sections are attachable by fastening meanson at least one of the lugs and the recesses.
 6. The room delimitingmeans as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening elements comprise atleast one of screws, bolts, bonds and screw anchoring plugs.
 7. The roomdelimiting means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stiffening andconnecting means comprise boards, which are preferably configured to beable to be inserted in intermediate spaces between said core element andsaid surface element.
 8. A method for implementing an individualprefabricated element of a room delimiting means, characterized in thatfor each individual prefabricated element said method comprises thefollowing steps: providing modular prefabricated elements which comprisea core element and at least one surface element, at least one said coreelement and said at least one surface element including at least one ofrecesses and intermediate spaces therein, each of said prefabricatedelements including groove and tongue-like recesses and projections onopposite sides for connecting one of said prefabricated elements withanother of said prefabricated elements, said projections engagingcorresponding ones of said recesses in an adjacent one of saidprefabricated elements when said prefabricated elements are connectedtogether; applying at least one stiffening and connecting element to atleast one of said prefabricated elements and a surface of a room, thesurface being at least one of a wall of the room, a floor of the roomand a ceiling of the room, said stiffening and connecting element beingfixable to the surface using fastening elements; arranging one of saidprefabricated elements at a predetermined position via at least one offitting said one of said prefabricated elements into said at least onestiffening and connecting element secured to the surface, fitting saidone of said prefabricated elements into said at least one stiffening andconnecting element at another of said prefabricated elements, andarranging said prefabricated elements with one of said at least onestiffening and connecting element arranged thereon; and fixing saidprefabricated elements by connecting said stiffening and connectingelements with fastening elements to at least one of said prefabricatedelements adjacent to at least one of said stiffening and connectingelements, and the surface.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe intermediate spaces are formed on said prefabricated elements byinsertion of said stiffening and connecting elements.
 10. The method asclaimed in claim 8, wherein said stiffening and connecting elementsinclude U sections having a base and limbs, said U sections beingprocessable in the following steps: cutting into at least one of saidlimbs and said base of said U sections, and bending at least a portionof said U sections so that lugs and angled U sections are formed, anaxis of bending of said U sections being one of in a base face of said Usections and perpendicular to said base face of said U sections.
 11. Themethod as claimed in claim 10, wherein the working of said U sectionsfurther comprises the following step of: cutting the lugs to formrecesses in said limbs of said U sections.
 12. The method as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said fastening elements are applied directly to saidprefabricated elements without preparing said stiffening and connectingelements or said prefabricated elements.
 13. The room delimiting meansas claimed in claim 2, wherein said conduit elements are in the form ofoutwardly open channels, and are arranged on one of the two opposite endfaces of said core element, which end faces constitute the principalfaces of said core element.
 14. The room delimiting means as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said groove and tongue-like recesses and saidprojections are formed by channels extending longitudinally in relationto the longitudinal axis of said prefabricated element.
 15. The roomdelimiting means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said stiffening andconnecting elements comprise U sections, which include limbs and basefaces, said U sections being attachable to said prefabricated elementssuch that the limbs of said U sections at least one of fit around saidtongue-like projections, fit around said core element of saidprefabricated elements, fit into an intermediate space in said coreelement, and fit between said core element and said surface element. 16.The room delimiting means as claimed in claim 5, wherein said U sectionsare bent at an angle in order to serve as stiffening and connectingelements for at least one of recesses of room delimiting means and aconnection of said prefabricated elements, said recesses beingconfigured for at least one of a door, a window and an obliqueconnection.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fasteningelements are applied directly to said prefabricated elements withoutpreparing said stiffening and connecting elements or said prefabricatedelements.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stiffeningand connecting elements are provided for at least one of stiffening saidprefabricated elements, fastening of said prefabricated elements on atleast one of the walls, the ceiling and the floor, and connecting saidprefabricated elements with one another, said stiffening and connectingelements being arrangable in the recesses and/or intermediate spaces forconnecting said prefabricated elements.
 19. The method as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said fastening elements are provided to connect saidstiffening and connecting elements with at least one of the walls, thefloor, the ceiling and said prefabricated elements.
 20. The roomdelimiting means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said core elementcomprises one of a monolithic core element and a composite core element.